Trump taps into rising support for MAGA

Hyderabad: The Democrats likely did not see it coming. Or they chose not to. The American public’s emphatic vote for Donald Trump returning him to the White House as the President of the United States for a second term, will be one that will be studied for years to come, particularly in a society that appeared polarised on divisive issues, in which large number of people appeared to chose to rally behind Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

The rallying cries of the Democratic Party included a heavy focus on issues relating to the DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) issues, and the pitching of Trump as a man of extremes, a person who cannot be trusted given his volatility, clearly failed to do the trick for Democrats.

Trump’s return to power, represents a political return of phenomenal proportions, and for India, his return to the White House, could be a sign of potentially better tidings in relations with the United States.

“He came back in a big way from near political obliteration, and constant dismissal for his rhetoric. People disregarded him. That was the problem with the Democrats who failed to unpack his ideas and the movement,” according to Sanjay Pulipaka, an Indian foreign policy expert, and chairperson of Politeia Research Foundation.

Suggesting that it is time to reflect on how Trump is not just a political personality but someone who has tapped into the social and political consciousness of Americans who bought into the MAGA argument, Sanjay said “people were reluctant to look at it or take note of this happening in the society there.”

According to Mohan Guruswamy, author, and the well-known analyst and commentator on politics and economic affairs, “Trump is a practical man, and business-oriented. He will pursue friendly policies with India. His presidency will be an improvement for India than that of the Joe Biden administration for whom issues like the one around G.S. Pannun (a vocal Khalistan supporter) mattered. Democrats are more driven by these things. Trump will see India’s potential, and to that extent, we can look for more comfortable times under the Trump administration.”

Guruswamy said the first round of Trump presidency from 2016 saw good India-US relations, with the presence of a large Indian origin population in the US contributing to how ties are shaped. “Trump is also more realistic about India’s ambitions. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump know each other and have been warm towards each other, and that helps,” he explained.

And the fact that Trump, and the Republicans have majority in the Senate and are expected to enjoy the same in the House, is expected to give him greater space to be responsible without having to engage in his previous victim narrative. Modi, and Trump, are “very seasoned politicians, who will take opportunities when available. Both are comfortable domestically, and there could be some hard bargaining, but there will be an element of confidence in their engagements,” Sanjay said.

One of the standouts at Trump’s speech as the results made it clear that he is to be the 47th American President, was his fulsome praise of Elon Musk, something that could hold portends for India, both in terms of jobs, and opportunities for the Make In India movement.

Kishore Poreddy, a technology entrepreneur turned BJP spokesperson, said Trump’s stated agenda and the crucial influence Elon Musk will have in Trump’s new term, represent two shifts from the current Biden administration.

“First, Trump's thrust will be to reduce America's dependence on China for manufacturing, and second, a shift from illegal to legal migration focused on STEM resources. The first shift will most likely involve making products involving cutting-edge technologies in America and a ‘China plus One’ strategy for the rest of the products. This could provide a humongous opportunity for Make in India, especially in mass-scale, non-strategic manufacturing,” he said.

The second, is the priority on 'Make in America' for high-tech products coupled with Elon Musk, the founder of Space-X, Tesla, Neuralink and Starlink, playing a critical role in the administration could mean more significant opportunities for Indian science and engineering talent in the US. Either way, a shift from ideological issues to more practical geopolitical and strategic priorities could benefit India and Indian talent in a significant way,” he said.